Eliza, you must have very unique perspective as a second generation performer. You can see parts of 'the big picture' most of us can't. Very insightful, that part about what I read as the grabbing of the baton. If the excitement of new 'voices' and styles couldn't exist, there wouldn't be much point in performing.

I can only look at this from a non-performing perspective. We used to get together and primarily talk about the music itself, and now frequently discuss recordings, shows and performers' versions of song. Maybe it's because the songs have been a part of us for so long they aren't news, but what a musician does with them will always be news. I try to look for music I like, whether it's a new, unusual arrangement or a well done, simple version of a song. Reacting to changes or a lack of them would make me miss out on a lot.

Classifications are fine, as long as we use them as descriptions and not rules. Just my opinion.